Rhythm teaching machine



United States Patent Inventor John E. Reid, Sr.

152 S. Lincoln, Mundelein, Illinois 60060 Appl. No. 814,874 Filed March10, 1969 Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 698,703, Dec 11, 1967,abandoned. Patented Nov. 24, 1970 RHYTHM TEACHING MACHINE 11 Claims, 25Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 84/484 Int. Cl ....Gl0b 15/00 Field of Search 84/484, 477, 470

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 577,667 2/1897 Steffens84/470 1,664,010 3/1928 Welch 84/484 2,619,868 12/1952 Moore et al.84/484 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-John F.Gonzales Attorney-Russell N. Muehleman ABSTRACT: A machine for teachingtiming to music students employs a manually-controlled low voltagepowered, electrically or manually operated motor mechanism to advance arhythm indicating lamp across a carriage at a smooth tempo while saidlamp is viewed by the operator of the machine.

Sheet INVENTOR. JOHN E. REID 5R AGENT Patented Nov. 24, 1970 SheetPatented Nov. 24, 1970 Sheet 3 0f 5 a 3 EQ".

5;? 425 I 425 ,affi: 1 .1m a 425 1 J (b) (d) (f) (h) (j) (I) (n) FIG. 4

Sheet mow I RHYTHM TEACHING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION.

po. Another device for teaching rhythm 'series'employs a se-- ries ofwooden blocks of various width (according to the time width of themusical note indicated-thereon) carried by a frame. As a resilientmember is drawn across the series of blocks, a click is heard at onlythe beginning of each note and not during the correct time durationthereof. The ability of a student to draw the'member in a smooth evenstroke determines whether or not the precise rhythm is reproduced at asteady tempo. More sophisticated devices, such as record players, arealso available to enable a student to see or hear a rhythm as it isplayed for the student.

A major drawback of the above devices is that they leave out a naturalasset to music teaching, the foot-beat which all music teachers endeavorto get students to apply to performance in at least primary musicinstruction. In contract to previous techniques, my invention utilizesthe foot-beat as the clock for controlling smooth rhythm presentationsat any tempo a student wishes and for correct time durations of thenotes thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, my invention employs a stand, similarto a conventional music stand, having a frame to carry a plurality oftranslucent cards or an endless band having a plurality of translu-BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention, its organization andconstruction will be best understood by reference to the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, which are exaggerated as an aid in' describing the invention,and in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the front of a teaching machineconstructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary pictorial view of the rear side'of the machineofFlG. l;

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. '1;

FIGS. 44 through 4n, 5a and 5b are front and rear views of coded rhythmcards for use in the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the powering circuit of the machine ofFIG. I;

FIG. 7 is a pictorial view of a lamp assembly for use with the cards ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a rear view of another teaching machine constructed to employan endless band which carries aplurality of transluscent coded rhythmportions;

A FIG. 9 is a pictorial representation of an endless coded band for usewith the machine ofFlG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a front view ofthe machine of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary portion of an endless coded belt shown from therear, illustrating one coding technique which may be employed inpracticing the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. I, a frame isshown which comprises a standard including a hollow post 111 and a base112. Carried by the top of the standard is a card carrier frameincluding a front board 121 having a window 122 therein. A card holdercomprises top guide rail 123 and a bottom rail 124, the rails beingsecured to the front board by screws 126 or other suitable means. Aspring for holding the cards is disposed in rail 124. The front board121 and the top and side frame section 128 may be constructed fromseparate pieces or may be of a one-piece molded configuration.

A power cord 130 provides the machine with conventional house current. ADC power supply could also be used without the converter which isdescribed below. A foot switch is connected to the base by a cord 136 tocontrol the operation of the machine. Another cord 140 (or cords 130,136) feed through the hollow post 111 to the motor mechanism which ismounted behind the front board. The converter (transformer 601 andrectifier 602) may be mounted in the base 112 as shown in phantom or maybe mounted on the bottom frame section 128.

Referring to FIG. 2, a drive mechanism is shown which comprises a rotaryswitch 200 mounted on the bottom frame section 128. A modified versionof a Type 45 rotary switch by Automatic Electric Company of Northlake,Illinois could be employed. Carried by the shaft 201 with gear 202(engaged by ratchet and pawl mechanism 202) is sprocket 203. Anothersprocket 204 is mounted to the bottom frame section via shaft 205 andbracket 206 which is secured by any suitable means. A chain 207 (shownin partial phantom) embraces the sprocket 203, 204 and carries the lampassemblies 202, only one of which is shown in FIG. 2.

Each lamp. assembly 202 comprises a lamp holder 221, which may be weldedor otherwise fastened to chain 207, having a contact wire 222 and acontact wire 223 which slide against bus 240 and coded contacts onthecoded cards 400,

respectively and a lamp 224. The lamp holder may be a slightly modifiedLEECRAFT Series 25-200, Type 25-208 with an S-type socket and a P-typebase, Allied Radio part number 60A8980 and the lamp may be a GeneralElectric Type 253 or 253X five-sixteenths inch (oval or rectangular beamcross section inch from lamp) either of which is an optically-refined,high-output lens end lamp, Allied Radio part number 60A7957 or 60A7958,respectively. Cords 130 and 136 connect the power supply to theconverter, rotary switch 200, bus 230 and bus 240. An audible indicatingdevice could be connected in parallel with the lamp as shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 3 shows in cross section the drive mechanism of FIG. 2 and isfairly self-explanatory. It shows that sprocket 203 and gear 202 arealigned and operate together on shaft 201. The ratio of the radii of thesprocket and gear determine the linear displacement of the chain on eachstep which is related to the printed code on cards 400. Cards 400 areplaced in the rails so that their printed circuit code sections may bewiped by contact 223; their common electrical pad being in .contact withbus 230 as will be seen below. 1

FIGS. 4a through 4n show a series of translucent cards coded 401-407, apaired with b, etc., the front side of the cards carrying a musicalnotation of the rhythm code and the back of the cards carrying theelectrical code of the rhythm thereon in the form of printed circuitsincluding a bus pad 420 for contacting bus 230 and code sections 425corresponding to the time duration of the notes of the rhythms.

FIGS. 5a and 5b show another type of code card wherein a double lampassembly and wipers would be employed; again, conductors 420, 425indicate the time duration of the notes (rhythm) and-conductors 430, 435indicate the steady beats of the tempo.

FIG. 6 shows a simplified schematic diagram of the drive and controlcircuits comprising power cord 130, step down transformer 601, full-waverectifier 602, the operating windcal supply by lead 835.

foot-switch 135, lamp 224, bus 240 ing of stepping switch 200,

425l symbolize the printed circuit and buzzer 603. Contacts sections425.

FIG. 7 shows a lamp assemblyfor use with the cards of FIG. 5. The bus240 provides common electrical contact to both lamps, the lower lamp viaconductor 701. A variation of the code contactor is shown in FIG. 7 ascomprising a roller assembly 705 having a roller contact 706 carried bypin 707.

In operation a student would select a series of cards 400 from a cardsupply (not shown) placing them in the top' and bottom rails 123, 124.Spring 125 holds the code conductor pad 420 against bus 239 then, whileexecuting the rhythm by instrument, by humming, by'clapping, etc., heprovides a foot beat to switch assembly 135 at a desired tempo. Theclosing and opening of the powering circuit to rotary switch 200 causesthe lamp assemblies to be stepped around the chain cir- .cuit adjacentthe window122. As contact 223 wipes bus 240,

the lamp 224 flashes the rhythm which may be seen through thetranslucent card. The buzzer 603, if employed, would also sound for theduration of each note: also, a plurality of buzzers or tone sources ofdifferent pitch could be employed along with different verticalpositionings of the strips 420 to sound each note.

. ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS While my invention has been described by aspecific illustration, alternative forms thereof may be made byoneskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

One such modification would be to use a purely mechanical motormechanism. This could be accomplished by replacing the rotary switchwith a mechanical linkage to the ratchet and pawl 202'.

Another variation would replace the sprockets and chain with a guiderail for the lamp which is indexed to a worm gear.

A mechanical link between the foot-pedal pedal and an eccen-* tricdrives the worn gear.- This device would need be reset however as thelamp'assembly reached the distal end of the worm gear.

In keeping with the desire for low voltage on the cards and bus230, abattery circuit could be used.

Another embodiment of my invention, and one which may be more desirablethan the foregoing, is represented in the illustrations of Figs. a11. Inthese FIGS. a stand 800 com prises a board portion 801 and ahollow legportion 802 which terminates at its low end in a base 803 (shown inphantom conductive bus strip 830 on the inside of the belt 822 near itsA transparent, and if desired magnifying,

' section, 822

edge for contacting supplylead 831.

As the foot pedal is operated, an up and downmotion is supplied to therod 812 by movement of the frame member 807 and a traversing motion 'isimparted to the rod 812 by the yoke-weight combination. The lamp 827 andwipers 828 and 833 are therefore moved across the board in an up anddown fashion governed by the rhythm indicia.

The coded endless belt 822 comprises a plurality of code sectionsfurther referenced a, b, 0, etc., which extend the length of the beltand each of which includes a plurality of measures, further referencedaa, bb, cc, etc., of corresponding musical timing, for example A time or4/4 time. A selected 801 to be access by the wiper 828. member 826 holdsthe belt 822 in the selected position by spring clamps 824 and 825. Thisclamping action also insures a good electrical contact between bus 830and supply lead 831.

I claim:

1. A rhythm teaching machine for operation in response to thetempo-setting foot-beats of a student, said machine comprising: a stand;a frame carried by said stand, said frame including a surface; meansmovablymounted on said surface including a series of musical notationsthereon which define a rhythm and coded means thereon extending along apredetermined path, said coded means corresponding to said rhythm;foot-operated'means; motor means carried by said frame, said motor meansconnected to and operated by said foot-operated means; code readingmeans carried by said motor means for movement along said path, saidcode reading means contacting said code means as said reading meansmoves along said dow 823 of board portion path and including indicatingmeans; and an electrical circuit having a foot pedal 804 and a spring805 for biasing the foot pedalupwardly.

A motor mechanism for causing traversal of lamp 827 across the boardincludes a generally rectangular rigid frame I code reading meansincludes said indicating means and an 'tors corresponding to a separatefor connection to a source of electrical energy including said codemeans and said indicating-means, said indicating means being operated toindicate said rhythm as said code reading means contacts said codedmeans. g

2. The machine defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of thefirst-mentioned means is translucent and said indicating means includesa lamp which traverses said path adjacentto said portion.

3. The machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said coded means includesa plurality of conductors, each of said conducmusical notation, thelength of each said conductor being related to the time duration of thenotation, each said conductor being spaced apart from and having acommon electrical point connected to said source in said circuit withthe other conductors of said plurality and said electrical contactconnected in series with said indicating member 807 having a dependingrigid leg member-806' disposed within the stand leg 802. An orthogonalmember 821 is coupled to foot pedal 804 to transfer the motion of thefoot pedal to the frame member 807. Frame member 807 thereforereciprocates up and down in guide (or rollers) 808-811.

The motor mechanism further comprises a rod 812 which is slidablyconnected between the upper and lower sections of frame member 807 bybearings 813 and 814. A yoke 815 isslidably mounted on rod 812 bybearings 816 and 817 such that rod 812 may reciprocate in'bearings816and 817 without imparting such motion to yoke 8,15.

A strand 818 connected to yoke 815 and directed over a pulley 819 isterminated with a weight 820. Weight820 is effective to pull yoke 815across the board portion 801 upon operation of the foot pedal 804.

Rod 812 also carries a lamp 827 connected to first "and second wipers828 and 833 between the legs of yoke 8-15. Wiper 833 contacts bus 834which is connected to an electri Wiper 828 rides'in a groove 836 in anendless translucent coded belt 822. Groove 836 includes coded conductivestrips 837 the time nected to an internal conductor. 832 which isconnected to a of said cards having musical notations means,saidelectrical contact sequentially contacting said plurality of conductorsto operate said indicating means in accordance with said rhythm as saidcode reading means-travels .along said path.

4. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the first-mentioned meansincludes a plurality of separate code cards, each thereon and each ofsaid cards carrying a separate code means thereon comprising a conductorfor each notation which is spaced apart from and electrically connectedto said source, each of said cards being serially positioned on saidsurface of said frame to form a rhythm series of said notations and acorresponding rhythm series of said conductors.

5. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said surface has anaperture therein, the first-mentioned means includes a plurality ofseparate code cards carried on said surface in abutting relation, atcent and each of said cards having a front side and a rear side, musicalnotations carried on the front side of each card to pro vide said seriesof musicalnotations which defines said rhythm when said cards arepositioned on said surface, a code conductor carried on the rear side ofa card for each musical notation on the front side thereof and spacedapart from any other being illustrated is positioned in front of awinleast a portionof each card being translusimilar code conductor onthe same card to define said path and electrically connected to saidsource of electrical energy, and wherein said code reading means ismounted behind said surface and includes an electrical contact whichextends through said aperture to contact said code conductors and saidindicating means includes a lamp which is connected to said electricalcontact and adapted to traverse said path adjacent said translucentportions, said lamp being operable to shine through said translucentportions as said code conductors are contacted by said electricalcontact.

6. The rhythm teachingmachine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said codereading means further includes a resilient contact member connected inseries with said indicating means and adapted to slidably engage saidcoded means.

7. The rhythm teaching machine a as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidcode. reading means further includes a contact member connected inseries with said indicating means, said contact member including aroller adapted to roll across and i electrically contact said codedmeans.

8. The machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said motor means includesmeans mounted to said frame for vertical reciprocation, means slidablycarried by said motor means for 7 vertical reciprocation, mounting meansfor mounting said code reading means, and means for moving said mountingmeans across said frame.

9 The machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said coded means comprisesan endless belt carried about said frame including a plurality of codedsections, said belt being selective- 5 ly positionable on said frame tocontact said code reading means with a selected coded section.

10. The machine as defined in claim 9, wherein each of said codedsections comprises:

a plurality of aligned code portions each of which includes:

a rhythm indi'cia thereon; an undulating groove therein communicatingwith the grooves of adjacent portions to define said predetermined pathas a series of undulating grooves which correspond to the footoperations of said foot-operated means; and a plurality of conductivestrips disposed in said groove corresponding to the'indicia on said codeportion. 11. The machine according to claim 10, wherein said codereading means includes a contact element for following said series ofundulating grooves and contacting the conductive strips therein, saidcontacting element connected to said indicating means.

